West Pointers are human beings, even those with names such as David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell. I think I have the standing to make this declaration, because I’m a fellow graduate. West Point is long on molding military officers, but a bit short on humanity. Its mission statement stresses the intent to commit every graduate to a career of professional excellence and service, embodying the values of “duty, honor and country.” How does West Point do that?

Here’s how: Rules! Hundreds upon hundreds of rules that govern every facet of human conduct imaginable, including my favorite: no sex in the barracks....[Yet] whether it’s because love (or lust) conquers all, or because ambitious Type-A’s stop at nothing in the face of adversity, cadets soon become experts at evading the no-sex rule....

Ms Cannon writes an interesting article, and I can sympathize with her. Years ago, and before the new systems were brought on line (AWACS and satellites), I was assigned to several remote Northern radar stations in Canada and the Arctic. These were one-year assignments, and aside from emergency leaves, no leaves were granted. None of these sites had women assigned, and the divorce rate was higher there than at most larger USAF installations. The result was predictable: “Keep your wives and daughters under lock and key, because Airman Smith is coming home! And please excuse the cuss words at the table; the poor guy isn’t housebroken.”